Reporter’s diary

Press, 23 June 1984, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Going cheap? PROPERTY developers and watchers of the real estate columns might be interested to read this item from the latest issue of the “Chatham Islands News-sheet,” published by the Chatham Islands County Council: “Owing to gross mismanagement, tenders are invited for the purchase of these extremely attractive islands. Situated, fortunately, more than a stone’s throw from New Zealand’s back door, this desirable lot comprises two main islands and a few outlying wildlife sanctuaries. It comes complete with 200-mile fishing zone plus an abundance of game and seafood. This may appeal, as indeed it does to the present owner, as a holiday resort for Government departments. Worthy of note is the natives’ ability to adapt: we are sure that in no time at all they would be fully conversant in either Russian or Korean. Interested parties may contact the Department of Internal Affairs for their full, half-page prospectus. Probably any tender at all would be accepted. Signed — Kelly De Malmanche.” ‘Kiwi Keith’

FRIENDS and colleagues of the late Sir Keith Holyoake are hoping to accumulate material that might be helpful one day for a biography of “Kiwi Keith.” They noticed that many people produced recollections and anecdotes of Sir Keith’s long political career at the time of his death late last year. They are appealing for written memories or anecdotes and say that any material received will be held in safe custody, and in confidence, for the time being. The address for contributions is: “Keith Holyoake Biography,” c/- P.O. Box 2058, Wellington. Lambs wanted ATTENTION FARMERS. A Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries veterinarian, Mr Bob Gumbrell, needs aborted lambs this weekend in the interests of science. They will be used to make a videotape for the continuity* education of vet-

erinarians. Mr Gumbrell may be reached this weekend at Christchurch 488-227.

Auction SOMEONE bought an oldtime whaling captain’s chest of drawers for ?320 at an auction in R. G. Bell and Company’s Kaiapoi rooms on Thursday. The cedar chest, made by a ship’s carpenter, belonged to Captain Joseph Price, one of Canterbury’s earliest settlers. Captain Price first visited Port Cooper (now Lyttelton) in 1831, and later ran a whaling station on Banks Peninsula, where his descendants still live. Rocky road TWO AUTHORS selected for the Book Marketing Council’s “Writing on Travel” promotion had trouble travelling to London for the launching of the event. Jonathan Raban E’ nned to sail there from Isle of Man, but ran into a fierce storm and had to abandon his 10-metre ketch on the Welsh coast. Less lucky was the Irish writer, Dervla Murphy, who was to have hitch-hiked from her home in Lismore, County Waterford. Having just emerged naked from a swim in the sea she was gored by a bull, and had to fly to London in plaster. Numbers game THERE MUST have been a lot of skinny demonstrators at a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament rally in Trafalgar Square, London, recently. The C.N.D.’s general secretary, Monsignor Bruce Kent, triumphantly announced that there were 200,000 at the rally, and got the crowd to shout the figure back at him. Strangely, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament had itself said before the rally that Trafalgar Square could hold only 35,000 people at the very most. The discrepancy was reminiscent of the demonstrations during the Springbok tour of New Zealand in 1981, when, on occasions, the anti-tour movement’s estimates of demonstrator numbers were up to five times greater than those of the police. —Petgt